Gabon has reinstated Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga to the national team following their expulsion after a disastrous Africa Cup of Nations campaign. The Gabonese Football Federation confirmed the government lifted suspensions on the players, but the coaching staff, including head coach Thierry Mouyouma, remains fired. The entire squad had been suspended after failing to win a single match in Morocco.

The government initially took drastic action after Gabon finished bottom of their group, suffering losses to Cameroon and Mozambique. Former interim minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula announced the sweeping sanctions on national television, citing the team's poor performance. However, the new sports minister, Paul Ulrich Kessany, intervened to stress the importance of upcoming 2027 AFCON qualifiers, urging the federation to prepare for the draw.

With the suspensions lifted, focus shifts to appointing a new manager to lead the team's qualifying campaign. Kessany, a former Gabon player himself, has tasked the federation with presenting practical details for selecting a new coaching staff. While Aubameyang and Ecuele Manga return to the fold, the search begins for a leader to salvage Gabon's international standing after a humiliating tournament exit.